ELON, N.C. – Tanner Samson became the program's 39^th player to reach 1,000 career points, but the Elon University men's basketball team couldn't complete a late comeback falling to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 85-81 on Friday, Nov. 27, in the final game of the Battle 4 Atlantis Sub-Regional tournament at Alumni Gym.
 
Samson recorded a game-high 23 points for Elon (3-3) and tacked on a team-high seven boards in the loss. Dainan Swoope and Luke Eddy also scored in double-figures for the Phoenix with 16 and 12 points respectively. Eddy also had team-highs rebounds (7) and assists (5) for the game.
 
The Islanders (4-2) had five players that scored in double-digits, including Jelanie Currie and Rashawn Thomas who score 18 points each.
 
Highlights
The Islanders opened the first 4:13 with a 10-4 run and the first media timeout was called with 15:47 on the clock. Swoope answered with a three-point play at the 15:31 mark to cut into the Islanders' lead 10-7.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi jumped out to a 10-point lead 40-30 with just over two minutes left in the half, but Elon made a 5-0 run capped off by two Luke Eddy free throws with 48 seconds left to make the score 40-35. Currie drained a jumper just before the half and the Islanders had a 42-35 lead at the break.
 
Samson reached his 1,000 point mark with 3:16 left in the first half making two free throws after being fouled while Elon was in the bonus.

WATCH: Tanner Samson drains two free throws to reach 1,000 career points! #ElevateElon #LTML https://t.co/MnGsi6pQKe

— Elon Men's Hoops (@ElonMensHoops) November 28, 2015

 
In the second half, the Islanders were able to hold a 10-point margin up until 14:54 before Elon began chipping away at the lead. A 12-5 run over the next four and a half minutes got the Phoenix within two, 58-56 with 10:03 left.
 
Finally, Elon grabbed a 70-69 lead with 6:18 to play after Dmitri Thompson's strong finish. Following a layup by Ali Hameed of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Swoope's free throw at 5:49 tied it up 71-71.
 
After some back and forth buckets from both teams, the Islanders created an eight-point cushion, 82-76, with just 1:49 remaining. Undaunted, Elon came back to bring the game within two 83-81 following a clutch three pointer from Steven Santa Ana with 24 seconds on the clock.
 
Elon had a chance to tie the game stealing the Islanders' inbounds pass, but with 20 seconds, Thompson's layup attempt under the basket bounced off the rim and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held on to win 85-81 after making a fast break layup.
 
Notes
- Tanner Samson became the program's 39^th player to reach 1,000 points in a career. He also made four three pointers and is at 254 for his career. Samson is now just five away from tying Chris Kiger for second all time with 259 made treys.
- Elon was aggressive, drawing fouls and going to the free throw line a season-high 30 times. The Phoenix finished 76.7 percent (23-30) from the strike against the Islanders, the second-highest percentage in a game for Elon this season.
- There were a total of six lead changes and the score was tied four times during the contest. Elon led twice in the final six minutes against the Islanders.
- Dainan Swoope was in double-figures on the scoring end for the sixth time this season with a season-high 16 points.
- Luke Eddy has led the team in assists in every game so far this season, dishing out a team-high five tonight against the Islanders.
 
Up Next
The Elon Phoenix will be back in Alumni Gym on Monday, Nov. 30, to take on the Kennesaw State Owls at 7 p.m. After Monday's contest, Elon will hit the road to take on FIU on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.